Fence-post



(No Model.) v W. H. LAWRENCE.

FENGE POST.

N0. 418 .524. Patented Dec. 31, 1889.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIAS N- PETERS, Phuhwlfllwgnphsr. Washington. D C

; UNITE I STATES i PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIS H. LAWRENCE, OF MILTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

FENCE-Post.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 418,524, dated December 31, 1889.

Application filed October 1,' 1889.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, WILLIS H. LAWRENCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milton, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification, reference. being had therein to the accompanying drawing, in which is represented a vertical sectional view of my improved post.

In the annexed drawing, a designates the central wooden shaft or rod extending from one end of the post to the other, andpreferably of one size throughout its length. Inclosing the upper portion of this post is a tube of terra-cotta b, and inclosing the lower portion of the post (the portionv which is to constitute its base) is another and shorter tube. 0, this latter tube being somewhat larger than the upper tube. Between the core or shaft and outer cylinder or cylinders is a filling of The advantages in the way of cheapness and durability of posts of this character are well known, and therefore need not be enumerated here. v

1 In the manufacture of a post of this character a serious difficulty has arisen from the fact that when the hydraulic cement is poured in around the central wooden shaft the fiber of "the same will absorb a large quantity of the water in the cement, causing the shaft to swell or expand to such a degree as to often break or crack the outer terra cotta shell, thereby entailing considerable loss of time and material and'materially adding to the cost of the manufacture of the posts.

The essential object of this invention is to overcome this objection and thereby greatly cheapen the production of posts of this char- Seriel No. 325,687. (No'modeL) acter; and with this end in view it consists in immersing or soaking the central wooden shaft in Water, oil, or other liquid before it is inserted in the cylinders, thereby swelling or expanding it to its utmost before it comes in contact with the Wet cement, so that the latter will have no tendency to expand it further; By this simple method of treatingthe central shaft before it is inserted in the cylinders all loss from cracking of cylinders is obviated, as has been ascertained by actual test.

It has been found in practice that the shrinkage or contraction of the post will be taken up by a consequent swelling of the cement. It will also be observed thatI allow the cement to cover both endsof the post as well as its sides, thereby effectually hermetically sealing it and rendering it practically non-destructible so far as the elements are concerned.

Roughening or corrugating the interior of the terra-cotta cylinders effectually prevents all slipping of the cement when the same is set, rendering the post more rigid and durable. I

Instead of swelling the central shaft before inserting it in the cylinders, I may coat it with some waterproofing material-such as tar, for instance-end thereby prevent the water of the cement entering the fiber of central shaft.

A flanged metallic or terra-cotta cap f may be placed over the upper end of the post to protect the cement filling.

. For hitching-posts (for which this post may with equal advantage be employed) an eyebolt g may be passed down throughacentral aperture in the cap f and screwed or driven. into the upper end of the wooden post, if desired.

For fence-posts apertures 6 may be formed in the terra-cotta cylinder for the passage of the rail and wire-securing bolts, which are driven through the cement filling and into the wooden shaft.

When used for lamp-posts, hitching-posts, &c., it is evident that all apertures may be I disused, in order that the appearance of the post will not be marred in any way.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure, is

1. The method herein described of constructing Combined terracotta and wood fence-posts, which consists in first swelling or expanding the central wooden shaft to its utmost degree, then inserting this swollen wooden shaft into a terra-cotta cylinder, and finally pouring in liquid or semi-liquid cement between the said shaft and cylinder and permitting the same to harden or set, as

to and for the purpose described.

2. A fence-post consisting of a central 

